Although begging is a punishable crime in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the presence of beggars increases during the month of Ramadan. What is more worrying is that some people enter the country during this time only for the purpose of begging. To curb this trend, Sharjah Police has issued a new warning to the general public.

They claim that those who are begging are not driven by poverty, but have taken up begging as a profession.

To show in reality how much money it is possible to earn by begging during Ramadan, Sharjah Police conducted an experiment. They sent a person on the road dressed as a beggar. The person sat in front of a mosque and asked for alms by touching a parked car. The results were shocking – in just one hour, he collected 357 dirhams, which is about 12 thousand taka in Indian currency. This incident proves that it is unimaginable how much money a person can earn in a day if they have the opportunity to beg without hindrance.

Sharjah Police said that some fraudsters in the Emirates exploit the religious sentiments and sympathy of the common people during Ramadan to defraud them in the name of begging. They claimed that such beggars are not really needy; rather, they do this work in an organized manner. Many even enter the country on visit visas only to beg during Ramadan. For this reason, the police have urged the public not to beg.

Sharjah Police said that those who really want to help others should do so through legitimate and government charities. These organizations identify the real needy and provide help to them. A police spokesperson said, “Giving alms means encouraging fraudsters. We want the help to reach the right place.”

Begging in the UAE is not only illegal, it also carries severe penalties. According to the country’s law, beggars can be imprisoned for up to three months and fined a minimum of 5,000 dirhams. In addition, there is a provision for a minimum of six months in prison and a fine of 100,000 dirhams for those who organize begging gangs or bring beggars from abroad.

While the importance of charity during Ramadan is immense, this initiative by Sharjah Police proves that if donations are not done in the right way, it can increase crime in society. They have urged the public to report beggars to 901 or 80040. It remains to be seen how important this step will play in maintaining security and social order in the emirate.